PH System Remains Unchanged

Despite its potential for misuse, many Boston University students show little concern about the ph directory services at BU.

Ph systems allow anyone with Telnet access to look up directory information online. This information includes the student’s name, local address (but not room number), telephone number, email address and the college in which the student is enrolled.

“In a university as large as this one, when you are trying to find a classmate or a friend, it is a nice mechanism people can use,” said James Stone, director of consulting services at BU’s Office of Information Technology.

At Northwestern University, students are taking action to limit ph services, after several students received harassing phone calls.

Stone, however, said student safety is always taken into consideration.

“Obviously we are sensitive to this issue and have a duty to protect the students,” Stone said.

The BU ph directory was designed so that any student has the option to restrict his information. If a student chooses to do this, all of his or her information becomes unavailable to everyone.

“Choosing this option is somewhat equivalent to an unlisted phone number with a phone company,” Stone said.

However, not many students choose to do this, he said.

BU students have not argued for a change in the school’s ph system, according to Laurie Steinberg, Student Union spokeswoman.

“Because any student has the right to restrict information, it has never been raised as a complaint, to my knowledge,” Steinberg said.

Many students see the ph directory as a useful tool, rather than a safety concern, Steinberg said.

“A lot of times, students look up the information on other students as resources if they know the student is part of an organization they are interested in,” she said.

College of Communication sophomore Stephanie Euler said she saw no threat to the safety of students in the ph system.

“I think that there isn’t anything to be worried about because you have to know the last name of the person you want to look up, and if you weren’t somewhat close to that person in the first place, you wouldn’t know it,” Euler said.

College of Engineering freshman Erin Rodliff agreed.

“I don’t use it because if you’re going to call someone, you would probably know them anyway, but I don’t think it’s a big problem,” Rodliff said.

COM sophomore Erica Mustonen also said she saw the benefits in having the ph directory.

“I lost my student ID earlier this year, and I was able to get it back because the girl who found it looked up my email address online,” Mustonen said.

“I think we should all have our privacy to a certain extent, but since we’re all living together in this organization, it sort of entitles us to the information, and it can be beneficial to call someone about a homework assignment,” said Zach Blas, a COM sophomore.

However, other students, such as College of Arts and Sciences freshman Sangeeta Ballal, said the ph system had potential dangers.

“In college it can kind of be threatening, when you’re finally on your own and you don’t need people to know your personal information,” Ballal said.

Stone said no serious complaints have been made about BU’s ph system.

“This system has been in use a number of years with no significant problems,” Stone said.